Here is one very important question that will determine, to a large extent, the health of your family. Are you ready for it? Here it is...
"Is your family living at capacity or over it?"
How you answer that question will impact not only your present but future as well. If you are over capacity now don't expect to be at or under it in the future unless you take action now. Here are three ideas to help your family live a balanced life.
1. Set Boundaries Right Now
“A person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls” (Prov. 25:28). A person or a family that can’t control their ability to do or to filter out what would cause them to go over capacity is in a vulnerable position. I understand, I/we have been there.
Although it’s not common for cities to build physical walls for protection these days, the Proverb above is a reminder to have at least some protection from intrusion. If you don’t exercise some self-control with your ability to do more, you will put yourself and your family in a vulnerable position open to an onslaught of time related attacks.
2. Put Down Your Phone Please
“Practice self-control, and keep your minds clear so that you can pray” (1 Pet. 4:7, GOD’s WORD). There has never been a time in our lives when we have been more capable of doing more. As it turns out those time saving devices have really worked! We are able to accomplish more things in less time.
What took our parents an hour to do we can do in 15 minutes! Our problem is we don't stop there, we simply cram more stuff into the next 45 minutes! Would you agree that we are more productive than our parents and...more stressed?
We have no time for recovery anymore. Let me rephrase that, we have more time for recovery, we just don't have the self control to take it.
3. Say "No" To Good So You Can Say "Yes" To Better
“Someone may say, I’m allowed to do anything, but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but I won’t allow anything to gain control over my life”(1 Cor. 6:12, GOD’S WORD).
Just because we can do something (ability) doesn’t mean we should do something (capacity). When we were growing up, we weren’t as susceptible to doing more, simply because we had fewer choices.
Today we are susceptible to going over capacity because our ability to do so has increased. Today’s modern family must filter out what is right for them and leave the rest. I'm not talking about filtering out the "bad stuff" so we can have the "good stuff."
I'm talking about filtering out the "good stuff" so we can have the "better stuff!" Most of the things we do are healthy, fun, productive and the list can go on...and on...and on... Let me put it this way, it is possible that doing more good will bring you more bad.
Setting healthy boundaries and learning to say "no" to good things will put you in a better place to say "yes" to better things in the future.
Simply put, our ability has outpaced our capacity. Practice self-control and find some family balance today!
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